62 FINAL ACT OF SECOND PAN AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. 



Committee in the hope that steps might be taken, as the result of the 

 Committee's labors, tending to establish the uniform railroad gauge, 

 which was felt to be not merely an economic factor but an element 

 in bringing about and maintaining good understanding and friendly 

 relations among the American republics. 



ARTICLE 8. The Second Pan American Scientific Congress recommends 

 The appointment of an American committee on radio communi- 

 cation to assist in the development of the science and art 

 of radio communication, to the end that it may serve to 

 convey intelligence over long distances and between ships 

 at sea more quickly and accurately, and to bring into closer 

 contact all of the American Republics. 



This recommendation, due to the Engineering Section, states the 

 advisability, indeed the need, and the advantages which might reasonably 

 be expected to accrue from the appointment of a Pan American Inter- 

 national Commission on radiotelegraphic communication. These advan- 

 tages can not be gainsaid, for it surely needs no argument that the rapidity 

 of communication between all countries of the world is of great advantage 

 to their governments and their peoples, and the growing tendency to 

 increase such rapidity suggests the advisability, if not the necessity, 

 of the establishment of uniform laws and methods. 



ARTICLE 9. The Second Pan American Scientific Congress recommends 



that 



A cooperative study of forest conditions and of forest utilization 

 be undertaken by governmental agencies of the American 

 Republics and that the data thereon be published. . 



Section III of the Second Pan American Scientific Congress was 

 designed to cover the subject of the conservation of natural resources, 

 agriculture, irrigation, and forestry. 



It was not indeed by any means the first time that these subjects had 

 been discussed in conference by interested persons in various parts of the 

 Americas, but it was probably the first time that the subject of con- 

 servation of resources was broadened to include the thought that sound 

 economic principles of conservation should be applied, not only to our 

 natural resources of mineral, forest, and water-power wealth, but also 

 to the food supply as represented in our animal and plant industries, 

 and to the distribution of agricultural products. 



The administration of President ROOSEVELT was peculiarly interested 

 in questions of conservation. 



